JP2008083958A - Image forming apparatus and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily grasp the storage position in the acquisition source of data recorded in a non-contact tag in an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recorded medium, and for recording data in a non-contact tag attached to the recoded medium. <P>SOLUTION: In writing data to an RFID tag attached to a sheet, the storage position in the acquisition source of the data (file) is printed as the image of a tree structure on a sheet. Also, the file written to the RFID tag is emphasized in the image of the tree structure. Thus, the storage position in the acquisition source of the data written to the RFID tag can be visually and easily grasped. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium. Specifically, when a non-contact type tag is attached to the recording medium, data is stored in the non-contact type tag. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of recording, and a program.

In recent years, it has been proposed to attach (including embedded) a non-contact type tag such as an RFID tag (Radio Frequency Identification tag) to a recording medium such as paper. It has also been proposed to record data on a non-contact tag at the same time as forming an image. For example, when an image is formed on paper based on image data, it has been proposed to record the image data on a non-contact tag attached to the paper so that the original image data can be used at the next copy. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
JP 2005-197834 A

  However, when the capacity of the non-contact type tag is large, various data other than the image data can be recorded on the non-contact type tag. Conventionally, such a case is not assumed, and when data other than the image data is recorded in the non-contact type tag, what data is recorded in the non-contact type tag (for example, There is no way of directly knowing the storage location where the recorded data was stored at the acquisition source. Of course, it may be understood by reading the data of the non-contact type tag into a personal computer via a tag reader and analyzing the file name or the like, but such work becomes very complicated.

  Therefore, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image on a recording medium and recording data on a non-contact tag attached to the recording medium, and the data recorded on the non-contact tag. It was made for the purpose of making it easy to understand the storage location at the acquisition source.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention made to achieve the above object includes an image forming means for forming an image on a recording medium and a non-contact type tag when the non-contact type tag is attached to the recording medium. A data recording means for recording data on the image, and an image representing a storage position at the data acquisition source of data recorded by the data recording means on the non-contact type tag. And an image formation control unit formed on the recording medium via the image formation unit.

  In the image forming apparatus of the present invention configured as described above, when a non-contact type tag is attached to the recording medium, data can be recorded on the non-contact type tag by the data recording unit. In this case, the image formation control unit displays an image representing the storage position at the data acquisition source of the data recorded by the data recording unit on the non-contact type tag. It is formed on a recording medium via image forming means. For this reason, the storage position at the acquisition source of the data recorded on the non-contact type tag becomes clear from the image recorded on the recording medium.

  The present invention does not limit the form of the image representing the storage position, but the storage position may be represented by a branched hierarchical structure. In this case, the storage position at the data acquisition source can be visually grasped.

  The storage location may be represented by a file name. In this case, the storage positions related to a large number of data can be formed as an image in a small space. Therefore, it is advantageous when a large amount of small data is recorded on a non-contact type tag attached to a recording medium having a small area with respect to the number of small data.

  In this case, the file name may include information indicating a storage position on the file structure at the data acquisition source. In this case, the storage position on the file structure at the data acquisition source becomes obvious at a glance.

  Further, the storage location may be represented by a folder image representing the storage location on the file structure at the data acquisition source. In this case, the storage position on the file structure at the data acquisition source becomes visually obvious.

  In addition, the storage position may represent a relationship with data not recorded on the contactless tag, and may be formed as an image that can distinguish between data recorded on the contactless tag and data not recorded. Good. In this case, the relationship between the data recorded on the non-contact type tag and the data not recorded (may be data recorded on a non-contact type tag attached to another recording medium) is obvious. It becomes.

  In each of the image forming apparatuses, the data recording unit may include a plurality of data attached to the recording medium when the capacity of data recorded on the non-contact tag is larger than the capacity of the non-contact tag. The data may be divided and recorded on the non-contact tag. In this case, it is possible to record a large amount of data without being limited by the capacity of the non-contact type tag.

  Further, in each of the image forming apparatuses, when the data recording unit divides and records the data on a plurality of non-contact tags attached to the plurality of recording media, the image formation control unit An image representing the storage position may be formed on each recording medium. In this case, it becomes obvious at a glance which of the divided data is recorded on the non-contact type tag attached to which recording medium.

  Further, in each of the image forming apparatuses, the data recording unit may record data representing a storage position at a data acquisition source together with the data on the non-contact type tag. In this case, the storage position at the acquisition source of the data recorded on the non-contact type tag can be easily found from the data recorded on the non-contact type tag.

  Still further, the program of the present invention is characterized by causing a computer to operate as any one of the image formation control means described above. Therefore, if the computer according to the present invention is executed by a computer, the computer can be operated as any one of the image formation control means described above, and the image forming apparatus described above can be easily configured. Can do.

[Overall Configuration of the Embodiment of the Invention]
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a printer 1 as an image forming apparatus main body, and a personal computer (hereinafter simply referred to as a personal computer) as a host device connected to the printer 1 via a cable 700. 800). The printer 1 and the personal computer 800 may be connected via a network such as a LAN.

[Description of Configuration of Printer 1]
FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing the internal configuration of the printer 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the printer 1 forms an image in a main body case 2 on a feeder unit 4 for feeding paper 3 as a recording medium, a multipurpose tray 14, and the fed paper 3. For example, a process unit 18 and a fixing device 19 are provided. Hereinafter, in the printer 1, the side where the multipurpose tray 14 is attached to the main body case 2 (left side in FIG. 2) is referred to as “front part”, and the multipurpose tray 14 is also attached to the main body case 2. The side opposite to the side is the “rear part”.

[Description of configuration of feeder unit 4]
As shown in FIG. 2, the feeder unit 4 includes a paper feed tray 6 that is detachably attached to the bottom of the main body case 2, a paper pressing plate 8 provided in the paper feed tray 6, and a paper feed tray. 6 is provided with a paper feed roller 12 and a separation pad 13 provided above one end side end portion. In addition, between the paper feed roller 12 and the image forming position P (the contact portion between the photosensitive drum 23 and the transfer roller 25, that is, the transfer position at which the toner image on the photosensitive drum 23 is transferred to the paper 3), A conveyance path 7 formed in a curved shape is arranged.

  The paper pressing plate 8 can hold the paper 3 in a laminated form, and is supported so as to be swingable at the far end with respect to the paper feed roller 12, so that the near end moves up and down. It is configured to be possible, and is biased upward by a spring 8a from the back side. The separation pad 13 is disposed so as to face the paper feed roller 12, and a pad 13a made of a member having a large friction coefficient is pressed toward the paper feed roller 12 by a spring 13b.

  On the other hand, the conveyance path 7 is formed in a curved shape by arranging a pair of guide plates 7 a and 7 b for guiding the paper 3. Further, in this transport path 7, in order from the upstream side of the sheet transport, a pair of transport rollers 11, a pair of transport rollers 11 and a pair of transport rollers and a pair of transport rollers, a pair of transport rollers and a driven roller. 10 and a pair of registration rollers 9 which are disposed immediately before the image forming position P and are composed of a pair of a driving roller and a driven roller are disposed at an appropriate interval.

  In the feeder unit 4 configured as described above, the uppermost sheet 3 among the sheets 3 stacked on the sheet pressing plate 8 is pressed toward the sheet feeding roller 12, and the sheet feeding roller 12 After being sandwiched between the paper feed roller 12 and the separation pad 13 by rotation, the paper is fed one by one. The fed paper 3 is conveyed by the conveyance roller 11 and then sequentially sent to the conveyance roller 10 and the registration roller 9 and is sent to the image forming position P at a predetermined timing.

[Description of Configuration of Multipurpose Tray 14]
A multi-purpose tray 14 for supplying paper 3 by manual feed or automatic paper feeding and a paper 3 stacked on the multi-purpose tray 14 are fed to the front side of the main body case 2 above the feeder unit 4. A multi-purpose-side paper feeding mechanism 15 for paper is provided. The multi-purpose-side paper feed mechanism 15 includes a multi-purpose-side paper feed roller 15a and a multi-purpose-side paper feed pad 15b. A spring 15c disposed on the back side of the multi-purpose-side paper feed pad 15b is used to The sheet feeding pad 15b is pressed toward the multipurpose sheet feeding roller 15a. In addition, the multi-purpose side paper feed mechanism 15 includes a pair of transport rollers 15d including a pair of a driving roller and a driven roller.

  In the multi-purpose tray 14 configured as described above, after the sheets 3 stacked on the multi-purpose tray 14 are sandwiched between the rotating multi-purpose side feed roller 15a and the multi-purpose side feed pad 15b. Each sheet is fed and sent to the registration roller 9 through a pair of conveying rollers 15d.

  Further, a tag reader 16 is provided between the transport rollers 15 d and 10 and the registration roller 9. When the tag reader 16 is provided with an RFID tag (radio frequency identification tag: hereinafter simply referred to as a tag) 3A as an example of a contactless tag as illustrated in FIG. The data recorded in 3A is read. For this reason, data is read by the tag reader 16 from the tag 3A provided on the paper 3 while the paper 3 provided with the tag 3A is being conveyed from the paper feed tray 6 or the multi-purpose tray 14 to the image forming position P. Can do. Note that when data is read (read) from the tag 3A attached to the paper 3 set on the multi-purpose tray 14, it is not always necessary to read (read) the paper 3 while being conveyed. Data may be read (read) from the tag 3 </ b> A attached to the paper 3 while being set (placed) on the purpose tray 14.

[Description of Configuration of Scanner Unit 17]
The scanner unit 17 is disposed on the lower surface side of the paper discharge tray 36 in the upper part of the main body case 2, and includes a laser light emitting unit (not shown), a polygon mirror 20 that is rotationally driven, lenses 21a and 21b, a reflecting mirror 22, and the like. The photosensitive drum 23 in the process unit 18 is made to pass or reflect a laser beam corresponding to the image data emitted from the laser emitting unit in the order of the polygon mirror 20, the lens 21a, the reflecting mirror 22, and the lens 21b. Irradiated on the surface of the substrate by high-speed scanning.

[Description of Configuration of Process Unit 18]
The process unit 18 includes a drum cartridge having a photosensitive drum 23 as an electrostatic latent image carrier, a scorotron charger 37, a transfer roller 25, and the like, and a developing cartridge 24 that is detachably attached to the drum cartridge. Has been. The developing cartridge 24 includes a toner container 26, a developing roller 27, a layer thickness regulating blade 28, a toner supply roller 29, and the like.

  The toner storage unit 26 is filled with a positively charged non-magnetic single-component polymerized toner as a developer, and the toner is supplied to the developing roller 27 by the toner supply roller 29. At this time, the toner supply roller 29 Further, the toner charged to the positive polarity between the toner and the developing roller 27 and the toner supplied onto the developing roller 27 has a constant thickness due to the friction of the layer thickness regulating blade 28 as the developing roller 27 rotates. It is carried on the developing roller 27 as a thin layer. On the other hand, the rotating photosensitive drum 23 is disposed to face the developing roller 27, the drum body is grounded, and the surface thereof is formed of a positively charged organic photosensitive material.

  The scorotron charger 37 is disposed above the photosensitive drum 23 at a predetermined interval so as not to contact the photosensitive drum 23. The scorotron charger 37 is a positively charged scorotron charger that generates corona discharge from a charging wire such as tungsten, and is configured to uniformly charge the surface of the photosensitive drum 23 to a positive polarity. ing.

  The surface of the photosensitive drum 23 is first uniformly charged positively by the scorotron charger 37 as the photosensitive drum 23 rotates, and then exposed by high-speed scanning of the laser beam from the scanner unit 17. Then, an electrostatic latent image based on the image data is formed.

  Next, the electrostatic charge formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 23 when the positively charged toner carried on the developing roller 27 comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 23 by the rotation of the developing roller 27. The latent image, that is, the surface of the photosensitive drum 23 that is uniformly positively charged, is supplied to an exposed portion that is exposed to a laser beam and the potential is lowered, and is visualized by being selectively carried. As a result, a toner image is achieved.

  The transfer roller 25 is disposed below the photosensitive drum 23 so as to face the photosensitive drum 23, and is supported by the drum cartridge so as to be rotatable in the clockwise direction in FIG. The transfer roller 25 is configured such that a metal roller shaft is covered with a roller made of an ion conductive rubber material, and at the time of transfer, a transfer bias (transfer forward bias) is applied from a transfer bias application power source. Has been. Therefore, the toner image carried on the surface of the photosensitive drum 23 is transferred to the paper 3 at the image forming position P described above while the paper 3 passes between the photosensitive drum 23 and the transfer roller 25. .

[Description of Configuration of Fixing Device 19]
As shown in FIG. 2, the fixing device 19 as a fixing unit is disposed downstream of the process unit 18 in the conveyance direction, and is disposed so as to press one heating roller 31 and the heating roller 31. The pressure roller 32 and a pair of conveying rollers 33 provided on the downstream side thereof are provided. The heating roller 31 is made of a metal such as aluminum and includes a heater such as a halogen lamp for heating. The toner transferred onto the sheet 3 in the process unit 18 is transferred to the sheet 3 by the heating roller 31 and the pressure roller 32. Heat-fixed while passing between. Thereafter, the sheet 3 is conveyed to the rear discharge path in the main body case 2 by the conveyance roller 33, further conveyed by the conveyance roller 34 and the discharge roller 35, and then discharged onto the discharge tray 36. Paper.

  In addition, a tag writer 38 as an example of a data recording unit capable of recording data on the tag 3A is provided in the paper conveyance path between the heating roller 31 and the pressure roller 32 and the conveyance rollers 33 and 33. . For this reason, when the sheet 3 attached with the tag 3A is used, desired data can be recorded on the tag 3A of the sheet 3 after image formation.

[Description of Control System of Printer 1]
In addition, on the upper surface of the printer 1, various buttons (not shown) including a tag reading button 220A and an operation panel 220 (see FIG. 1) including a liquid crystal display are provided. Returning to FIG. 1, the operation panel 220 is connected to the control unit 200 together with the process unit 18, the scanner unit 17, the tag writer 38, and the tag reader 16. The control unit 200 is configured as a microcomputer including a CPU 201, a ROM 202, and a RAM 203, and further includes an NVRAM 204 that does not erase stored contents even when the power switch is turned off. The control unit 200 is connected to a personal computer 800 serving as an image formation control unit via a printer port interface (printer port I / F) 230 and a cable 700.

  A personal computer main body 810 of the personal computer 800 includes a CPU 811, a ROM 812, a RAM 813, and a hard disk device (HDD) 814 as main components. The RAM 813 includes a tag write data area 813A and a print data area 813B, which will be described later. The personal computer main body 810 is connected to a display 820 such as a CRT, a keyboard 830, a mouse 840, and a printer port interface (printer port I / F) 850 for connecting to the control unit 200 of the printer 1. Yes.

[Processing in the above control system (processing of the personal computer 800)]
Next, processing in this control system will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing print control processing executed by the personal computer 800. Note that this processing is started when the CPU 811 executes a predetermined program stored in the HDD 814 when an operation command for this processing is issued in the personal computer 800.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when processing is started, first, an image of a file structure at a specific position in the HDD 814 is created and displayed on the display 820 in S1 (S represents a step: the same applies hereinafter). . For example, as illustrated in FIG. 5, a tree structure diagram (an example of a file structure) from the root to the end file is displayed on the display 820. In subsequent S2, the print range of the file structure is set based on the operation of the user's mouse 840 or the like on the file structure displayed in S1. In the setting of the print range, the entire area below the root may be specified, the entire area below the desired folder may be specified, or the image may be specified on the file structure image.

  In the subsequent S3, tag write data to be written to the tag 3A is set out of the data displayed in the file structure based on the operation of the user's mouse 840 or the like on the file structure displayed in S1. Note that the tag writing data setting may be specified in the whole of the root or under the desired folder, or in the file unit, similarly to the print range setting (S2). Also good.

  Thus, when the tag writing data is set in S3, in subsequent S4, it is determined whether or not all the tag writing data are within the printing range set in S2. If all the tag writing data is not within the printing range (S4: N), the process proceeds to S2 described above, and the setting of the printing range (S2) and the setting of tag writing data (S3) are repeated. . If all tag writing data is within the printing range (S4: Y), the process proceeds to S5.

  In S5, print image data (hereinafter also simply referred to as print data) corresponding to the print range set in S2 is created and written in the print data area 813B. Note that the print data may cover a plurality of pages. In this case, however, the print data is created for each page in S5. In subsequent S7, it is determined whether or not there is a file to be saved as tag write data within the print range corresponding to the print data. If there is a file to be saved (S7: Y), in S8, tag write data included in the print range corresponding to the print data is set in units of files up to the storage capacity of the tag 3A, and the tag write data It is written in area 813A. Note that the storage capacity of the tag 3A may be acquired via the tag reader 16 by transporting the paper 3 to the front of the registration roller 9, and the storage capacity of the tag 3A is standardized, and the value is the HDD 814. Or the like, it may be acquired by reading the value.

  In S9, the file written in the tag is emphasized among the print image data, and the data in the print data area 813B is updated accordingly. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 6, a rectangular frame representing a file is filled with a predetermined color. In addition, as an emphasis method, various methods can be selected depending on options such as adding a star at the right end of the file name in FIG.

  In subsequent S10, the tag write data written in the tag write data area 813A and the print data written in the print data area 813B are transmitted to the printer 1, and the process proceeds to S11. If there is no file to be saved as tag write data within the print range corresponding to the print data of the page (S7: N), the process directly proceeds from S7 to S10, and only the print data of the page is transmitted. Is done.

  In S11, it is determined whether or not there is unwritten data in the same page that could not be written in the storage capacity of the tag 3A in S8. If there is no unwritten data (S11: N), the next in S12 It is determined whether there is print data for the page. If there is no print data for the next page (S12: N), the process ends as it is, and if there is print data for the next page (S12: Y), the process proceeds to S5 described above and the next page is printed. Print image data is created.

  On the other hand, if there is unwritten data in the same page (S11: Y), the process proceeds to S13, and the remaining tag write data corresponding to the page is filed up to the storage capacity of the tag 3A as in S8. The unit is set and written to the tag write data area 813A, and the process proceeds to S9 described above. In this case, in S9, the file newly written in the tag write data area 813A is emphasized, and the enhancement of the file performed in the previous process of S9 is released. When the writing of all tag writing data to the tag writing data area 813A (S8, S13) and the transmission of tag writing data (S10) are completed (S11: Y), the process proceeds to S12 described above.

  Through the above processing, for example, the following print data is transmitted in S10 according to the tag write data in the print range corresponding to the print data of the page and the storage capacity of the tag 3A. That is, when the tag write data can be written to one tag 3A (S11: N), as illustrated in FIG. 6, the file written to the tag 3A as the tag write data is emphasized (see S9). Is sent (S10), and if the tag write data cannot be written to one tag 3A (S11: Y), it is written to the tag 3A attached to the paper 3 as illustrated in FIG. Only the file is emphasized (see S9), and print data for a plurality of pages is transmitted (S10).

  In the example of FIG. 7, when all the files included in the folder C1 of “A: \ B1 \ C1” are the tag write data, the C1 file 1 to the C1 file 4 are on the first sheet 3. In this example, the remaining C1 file 5 and C1 file 6 are written to the tag 3A attached to the second sheet 3 and written to the attached tag 3A.

  Also, when the print range set in S2 is wide and the tree-structured image corresponding to the print range cannot be printed on one sheet 3 (S12: Y), similarly, print data for a plurality of pages is stored. It is transmitted (S10). In this case, the tree structure image printed on each page also changes.

[Processing in Control System (Processing of Printer 1)]
Next, FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a printer printing process executed by the control unit 200 of the printer 1 in accordance with the process of S10. This process is started when data is transmitted from the personal computer 800.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when the process is started, first, in S201, a process of receiving data transmitted from the personal computer 800 is executed, and in S202, whether the received data is print data. It is determined whether or not. If it is print data (S202: Y), the print data is written in the print buffer set in the RAM 203 in S203, and if it is not print data (S202: N), the processing is performed. Proceeds to S204.

  In S204, it is determined whether or not the received data is tag write data. If it is tag write data (S204: Y), after the tag write data is written to the tag write buffer set in the RAM 203 in S205, if it is not tag write data, it remains (S204: N) The process proceeds to S206. In S206, it is determined whether or not the data reception from the personal computer 800 has been completed. If it has not been completed yet (S206: N), the process proceeds to S201, and the above-described processes of S201 to S205 are repeated. .

  On the other hand, when the data reception from the personal computer 800 is completed (S206: Y), the process proceeds to S207, and printing on the sheet 3 is started by driving the scanner unit 17, the process unit 18 and the like based on the print data. The In subsequent S208, it is determined whether or not the sheet 3 has been transported to a tag writing position where the tag writer 38 can write data to the tag 3A. If it is not the tag write position (S208: N), if it is the tag write position (S208: Y), the tag write data is written to the tag 3A only when there is tag write data in S209. After that, the process proceeds to S210.

  In S210, it is determined whether the printing on the paper 3 and the writing on the tag 3A are completed as necessary. If the printing has not been completed (S210: N), the process proceeds to S207. The processes of S207 to S209 described above are repeated. When the printing on the paper 3 and the writing on the tag 3A are completed as necessary (S210: Y), the process is temporarily terminated. Through the above processing, as described above, an image corresponding to the printing range, tag writing data, storage capacity of the tag 3A, etc. is printed on the paper 3, and the corresponding tag writing data is written to the tag 3A.

  When the control unit 200 receives an instruction to read the data of the tag 3A from the personal computer 800 or when the tag reading button 220A of the operation panel 220 is pressed, the control unit 200 performs the following tag data reading process. Execute.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the tag data reading process. As shown in FIG. 9, when the process is started, first, in S250, it is determined whether or not the sheet 3 is set on the multi-purpose tray. If the paper 3 is not set (S250: N), the process waits in S250 as it is, and if the paper 3 is set (S250: Y), the conveyance of the paper 3 is started in S251. The

  In subsequent S252, it is determined whether or not the tag reader 16 can communicate with the tag 3A. If communication is not possible (S252: N), if communication is possible (S252: Y), data is read from the tag 3A via the tag reader 16 and written to the tag buffer in the RAM 203 in S253. Then, the process proceeds to S254. In S 254, it is determined whether or not the sheet 3 has been conveyed to the end of the sheet 3 and discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 36. If the sheet has not been conveyed to the end of the sheet (S254: N), the process proceeds to S251 described above, and the processes of S251 to S253 are repeated. If the sheet has been conveyed to the end of the sheet (S254: Y), the process is performed. Proceeds to S255.

  In S255, the data read from the tag 3A in S253 is transmitted to the host (in this case, the personal computer 800), and the process ends. By sending the tag 3A data to the personal computer 800 in this way, the file (see S3) set as the tag write data as described above can be read from the tag 3A and used by the personal computer 800. In addition, since the above-described image is printed on the paper 3, it is extremely easy to designate a desired file and use it on the personal computer 800.

[Effects and modifications of this embodiment]
As described above, in the above embodiment, the storage position at the acquisition source of the data (file) written to the tag 3A is printed on the paper 3 attached with the tag 3A as a tree-structured image. In addition, the file written in the tag 3A is emphasized in the tree structure image. For this reason, the storage position at the acquisition source of the data written in the tag 3A can be easily grasped visually. Further, the data written in the tag 3A and the data not written (in other paper 3) The relationship with the tag 3A attached may also be obvious. Note that it may be possible to distinguish between a file written to the tag 3A of another sheet 3 by repeating the process of S13 and a file that has not been written as tag write data in the print control process. In this case, the user can determine whether to search for another sheet 3 in order to acquire desired data or to go directly to the personal computer 800 as the data acquisition source.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, as the image representing the storage position at the acquisition source of the tag write data, various forms other than the above are conceivable. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the rectangular frame representing the file and the file name include the tag 3A. You may print only what was written in. Also, the printing date, file creation date / time, and update date / time may be printed. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 11, files or folders that are neither higher nor lower (so-called rather than direct) than files written in the tag 3 </ b> A as tag write data may not be printed. Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 12, only the folder may be represented by a tree structure, and the folder to which the file corresponding to the tag write data belongs may be emphasized as described above. In this case, when only a part of the files in the folder is written in the tag 3A, the rectangle representing the folder may not be completely filled as shown in FIG. The ratio written to the tag 3A, such as one half and one third of the entire folder, may also be known.

  Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 13, the storage location may be represented by only a rectangular frame representing a file and a file name instead of a tree structure. In this case, it is advantageous when a large amount of small data is written to the tag 3A and the area of the paper 3 is small relative to the number. In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 13, when the file name includes information “A: \ B1 \ C1” indicating the storage position on the file structure, the storage position on the file structure at the acquisition source of the tag write data Becomes obvious at a glance. Furthermore, in each of the embodiments described above, information indicating the storage position on the file structure may be attached to the tag write data itself.

  When the tag writing data includes a folder corresponding to the image data and other folders, the image corresponding to the image data and the image having the tree structure described above may be printed on the paper 3 at the same time. Further, the image forming means is not limited to the one that forms an image by an electrophotographic method as in the present embodiment, and an image forming means that ejects ink to form an image can also be adopted. For example, a tag that transmits and receives data using infrared rays can be employed. When the printer 1 includes the operation panel 220 having an appropriate size, the control unit 200 may execute all the processes executed by the personal computer 800 in the above embodiment. In this case, the image forming apparatus of the present invention can be configured by the printer 1 alone.

  In addition to a printer function, for example, in the case of a multi-function peripheral having a scanner (original reading) function, a copy function, a fax function, etc., an automatic document conveying mechanism (so-called ADF mechanism) attached to the scanner function enables tagging. The data recorded on the tag 3A may be read out by a tag reader arranged along the transport path while transporting the paper 3 attached with 3A.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an internal configuration of a printer configuring the image forming apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which illustrates the structure of the paper provided with the non-contact type tag. 4 is a flowchart showing a print control process executed by a personal computer constituting the image forming apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which illustrates the image of the file structure produced by the printing control process. It is explanatory drawing which illustrates the state by which the image of the file structure was emphasized. It is explanatory drawing which illustrates the other state where emphasis was made | formed to the image of the file structure. It is a flowchart showing the printer printing process performed with the said printer. It is a flowchart showing the tag data read-out process performed with the said printer. It is explanatory drawing showing the modification of the image of the said file structure. It is explanatory drawing showing the other modification of the image of the said file structure. It is explanatory drawing showing the other modification of the image of the said file structure. It is explanatory drawing showing the other modification of the image of the said file structure.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printer 3 ... Paper 3A ... Tag 9 ... Registration roller 12 ... Paper feed roller 15a ... Multipurpose side paper feed roller 16 ... Tag reader 17 ... Scanner unit 18 ... Process unit 19 ... Fixing device 35 ... Paper discharge roller 38 ... Tag writer 200 ... Control unit 800 ... PC 810 ... PC body 813A ... Tag writing data area 813B ... Print data area 820 ... Display 830 ... Keyboard 840 ... Mouse 811 ... CPU 813 ... RAM 814 ... HDD

Claims (10)

Image forming means for forming an image on a recording medium;
When a non-contact type tag is attached to the recording medium, data recording means for recording data on the non-contact type tag,
An image representing the storage position at the data acquisition source of the data recorded on the non-contact type tag by the data recording unit is transferred to the recording medium to which the non-contact type tag is attached via the image forming unit. Image forming control means to be formed;
An image forming apparatus comprising:   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage position is represented by a branched hierarchical structure.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage location is represented by a file name.   4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the file name includes information indicating a storage position on the file structure at the data acquisition source.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage location is represented by an image of a folder representing a storage location on the file structure at the data acquisition source.   The storage position is formed as an image that also represents a relationship with data that is not recorded on the non-contact type tag, and that can distinguish between data recorded on the non-contact type tag and data that is not recorded. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   When the capacity of data recorded on the non-contact type tag is larger than the capacity of the non-contact type tag, the data recording means stores the data on a plurality of non-contact type tags respectively attached to the recording medium. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image is divided and recorded. When the data recording means divides and records the data on a plurality of non-contact tags respectively attached to the plurality of recording media,
8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the image forming control unit forms an image representing the storage position on each recording medium.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data recording unit records data representing a storage position at a data acquisition source together with the data on the non-contact tag.   A program for causing a computer to operate as the image formation control unit according to claim 1.

Images